Tender Care

Perhaps you're well aware of the potential pain of removing a bandage. There's a dilemma that precedes its removal: do I remove it gently and carefully or just rip it off? There's pain in both methods, however, the yank-it-off method can leave an abrasion and bruising. Upon returning from captivity, God's people needed reminding God is ever at-work: "The LORD is building up Jerusalem; He is gathering [together] the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow]." (Psalm 147:2-3 AMP). Life can be much like a curve ball that takes a sharp unexpected turn; the result is very often shock, dismay and disbelief! Like a bandage ripped from tender skin, the pain and bruising can crush the spirit and disheartened even the most trusting of souls. One commentator wrote, "God's principle work is always within the human heart." Although not all things that happen to us in this life are God's design, all things are altogether in His control; in His sovereignty, He allows otherwise painful things to accomplish His work on the human heart. David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God ... renew a right and steadfast spirit within me ... restore to me the joy of Your salvation ... sustain me with a willing spirit" (Psalm 51:10-12). It is God Who counts the number of the start and calls them all by their names, the LORD of abundant strength and inexhaustible infinite boundless understanding who offers healing to the wounding and bruising we face in life. The LORD indeed "is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18 ESV). In love and mercy, He tenderly applies fresh binding to our wounds and bruises, and He oversees the healing process. Bless the LORD, O my soul, for The Father's ... tender care.

Rest and Be Rescue

If you've ever watched a drowning person be rescued, the one in trouble often hinders the rescue. In fear and panic, he struggles against the one who can bring him to safety. God warned His people about aligning themselves - putting their trust in - pagan nations instead of relying solely on Him as their deliverer. He pictures the result of their misplaced trust like this: "Like a crack [in a wall] about to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant, whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter's jar, crushed so savagely that there cannot be found among its pieces a potsherd [large enough] to take [coals of] fire from a fireplace, or to scoop water from a cistern." (Isaiah 30:13-14 AMP). God is not without mercy, however: "For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel has said this, 'In returning [to Me] and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and confident trust your strength.'" (V.15). The Puritan says it like this: "the repenting soul is the victorious soul" (The Valley of Vision). I like to think of it like this - to give up is to win. Like a victim of treacherous waters, drowning and in desperate need of rescue, when we surrender to The One Who is all sufficient - able and willing to deliver us, only then are we brought to safety. What a beautiful promise we have, "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:14 ESV). Don't forfeit the victory Jesus promises - know His ... rest and rescue.

Give To Jesus

Perhaps you're one who finds "some assembly required" challenging words, even terrifying! I know the frustration of realizing you've skipped one critical step or the discovery of that "extra" piece at the end, then comes the dis-assembly. The brokenness of mankind is something we see all around us; it's even something we experience ourselves from time to time. It's a real wake-up call when we finally comprehend ... we cannot fix ourselves or others no matter how hard we try. The Prophet Isaiah foretold of The Servan, the coming Messiah: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." (Isaiah 61:1 ESV). Jesus repeated these words speaking of His mission from God: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." (Luke 4:18 ESV). The binding-up of the wounded should speak to us all; God is moved with compassion when He looks upon the hurting, the wounded, the broken among us! God's greatest act of compassion toward mankind is seen in The Gospel - the eternal redemption of the soul. We also know He is "near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18 ESV). In and through a personal relationship with His Son (Jesus), God brings healing and restoration to His children. The Puritan says it like this: "the broken heart is the healed heart." In the valley of brokenness, The Healer does His work! When I read the words "some assembly required," I've learned to leave it to the experts, those more proficient. We are wise to stop trying to fix ourselves - all our hurts, wounds and brokenness ... give to Jesus.

Set On Jesus

Have you ever been in a tight spot - a place where you needed a helping hand, to be rescued? Oh, I have. Mister Bill has been my deliverer many times and I'm sad to say, most of those "tight spots" were of my own foolishness! A good question all Believers should ask themselves is: in whom do we hope? Paul wrote, " For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, Who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10 ESV). To "set our hope" is to have fixed our confidence in something. Mister Bill is pretty handy at rescuing me from myself but he (like all mankind) has limitations. The "living God," however, is all-sufficient to deliver and rescue us from ourselves; yes, when we were dead in our sin, God made us "alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses" (Colossians 2:13 ESV). The key to any rescue - physical and spiritual - is knowing when to ask, to call-out for help. When we "confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 ESV). Once in that "tight spot," there's nothing quite like the realization deliverance has arrived. The Puritan said it like this: "to be low is to be high" - knowing we need rescuing then being rescued! Christ Jesus is The Hope of our eternal salvation both for forgiveness of sin (1 John 1:9), and for deliverance from the enemy who seeks to devour us every day (1 Peter 5:8). Oh, the joy of freedom from the tight spots of life. It's mine and it's yours when our hope is ... set on Jesus.

The Way Up

Do you remember your bike-riding days? I do, and I remember them fondly. Those wheels gave me a sense of independence; I could ride through the community to visit friends and neighbors. One thing I remember is the thoughtful navigation, planning routes that involved as few uphill climbs as possible. Very early in His earthly ministry, Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3 NASB). The Puritan said it like this, "the way down is the way up." What a contrast to worldly advice! Thinking of ourselves as most significant may be the world's way but is in direct opposition of what Jesus teaches. Happy and greatly admired are those who are devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant - the humble ones. Those humble ones will know the kingdom that is to come - that is, when Jesus comes to rule and reign forever - but also right now in these evil and troubled times. Spiritual prosperity belongs to those who have humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6), who willingly bow head and heart to God. I can feel the cool breeze in my face as I coasted down those hills on my bike - nothing quite like it. So it is as we make spiritual surrender to God a way of life. Truly, the way down is ... the way up.